Golden Torch Awards

The National Society of Black Engineers is the premier organization serving African Americans in engineering and technology. As a technical community service association, NSBE is the link between the African American community and the world of technology.

NSBE supports and promotes the aspirations of professionals, students and pre-college students. The mission the founders set forth in 1975, “To increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community, “ has blossomed into an organization with chapters worldwide.

The Annual Golden Torch Awards link the accomplishments of distinguished African- American engineers and technical professionals with college bound dreams of pre-college students. Since its inception GTA has served as a night to honor the best and the brightest in technology.

What is GTA?

The Golden Torch Awards (GTA) recognizes excellence among technical professionals, corporate, government and academic leaders, and university and pre-college students. These awards illustrate the possibilities that can be cultivated through support and responsibility. The proceeds of GTA are used to create college scholarships for gifted high school students.

History of GTA

The idea of the Golden Torch Awards came under the vision of the Executive Director Mr. Charles Walker in 1998. Mr. Walker believed since NSBE is a major force in increasing the number of blacks into the science, technology, engineering, and math fields, NSBE should also highlight the best and brightest in the industry. After the vision of Golden Torch Awards came into existence a proposal was submitted to the National Executive Board and was approved. Once approved a steering committee was put in place to execute the vision and make it a reality. The first Golden Torch Awards took place at the 24th Annual National Convention in Anaheim, California.

The Golden Torch Awards is the closing extravaganza on the annual convention. The Golden Torch Awards is the culminating awards ceremony of the society. Each year, this event honors the highest academic achievers and celebrates industry leaders in technology. Formerly a private ticketed event, in recent years the Golden Torch Awards has been made open to all conference participants and is the highest attended event of the week.

Grad Student Conference Travel Grant 2019-20

Must have plans on attending the Graduate Student Conference during NSBE#46

Regions: Region 2- Member of Howard University Collegiate Chapter, Member of Purdue University Collegiate Chapter

Classification: Undergraduate Sophomore

Residency Status: US Citizen, Permanent Resident, Non- US Citizen

Number of Awards: 10

Award Amount: $15,000 per student

Deadline: November 1, 2019

GE African American Forum (AAF) - Lloyd Trotter Scholarship

Since 1995, the GE AAF Lloyd Trotter Scholarship Fund has generated over $2 million dollars helping to make the college dream a reality for deserving and talented students. Lloyd Trotter is regarded as one of the most significant and influential leaders in GE’s history. From early in his career, he was known as an inspiring, dedicated, and philanthropic figure both inside and outside the company. In addition to co-founding the AAF, Lloyd was the first and only African American to be named Vice Chairman of GE. He served as President and CEO of GE Industrial, where he was responsible for a $28B business with nearly 80,000 employees worldwide. Each of our scholars are a representation of the power of the AAF and the legacy of Lloyd Trotter.

Journey Hill Family Fund Scholarship 2019 - 2020

The Journey Hill Family Fund is inspired by two women, Jodie Hill and Loretta Journey. Jodie was child #8 of 11 born in the segregated south in the early 1900's whose parents cared so much about education, that they moved states because they couldn't afford school books for their children. She attended college for the first time in her 70's. Loretta Journey was born the segregated south before 1910 and was taught to read in secret from the white family for which she did domestic work. She never had the opportunity to complete high school nor attend college. Damaune Journey is the grandson of these to phenomenal women who, through their guidance and example, became National Chairperson of NSBE, struggled and graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelors degree in engineering, and became the only African-American section president his year at Harvard Business School, where he graduated with an MBA. Loretta said, "get an education. It's the one thing 'they' can never take away from you." Jodie said, "be a leader" as a follower never charts their own path. This award is for the student that is striving to both excel in leadership and academics.

How to Verify Your GPA

Collegiate Members will self - report their GPA on their profile and chapter advisors will approve it through the Educational Institution Portal in NSBEConnect. Please speak with your chapter advisor if they are not registered for access to the portal and ask them to complete this form. WHQ will no longer accept transcripts and members must work with their advisor to confirm their GPA in the Educational Institution Portal. If your chapter does not have an advisor, please complete this form GPA Collection Form and e-mail it to scholarships@nsbe.org. This form MUST be signed by the Office of Registrar or a University Official.

NSBE Jr. Members will submit their GPA using this GPA Collection Form. A counselor or school registrar MUST sign this form, please email all signed forms to scholarships@nsbe.org.

Obtaining this NSBE scholarship means I do not have to work 20+ hours a week at a part-time job while simultaneously maintaining a high GPA and leadership involvement on campus. I am able to focus on developing myself academically and professionally without having to stress about how I will be able to pay for my tuition and textbooks. The NSBE scholarship has given me peace of mind so I will be able to excel academically.

Dominique Barnes - Region 3 | The University of Florida

Being a NSBE Scholarship Recipient has positivity impacted my life by providing me the funds to pay of my remainder balance for the 2018-2019 school year. This Scholarship has helped me to continue my degree in Architectural Engineering by giving me the courage and motivation to keep going no matter what my circumstances are. Thank you so much and I am internally grateful.

Whitney Whitfield - Region 3 | Tennessee State University

NSBE scholarships significantly contributed to alleviating the financial challenges that I faced in my pursuit of an engineering degree. The scholarships granted me the opportunity to contribute toward fulfilling the legacy and overcoming the challenges that otherwise would have hindered my propensity to excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community. The best way to show gratitude is by paying it forward to ensure NSBE vision.

Chima Chukwuemeka - Region 3 | Tennessee Technological University

Receiving the NSBE scholarship has helped my family out tremendously. It makes me feel great that I can help take some of the financial burden off of my parents. It has also provided me with confidence because it has shown me that people support me and my dream of becoming a professional Civil Engineer. I am grateful for this amazing opportunity and wish to make the most out of the next four years.

Jayla Cornelius - Region 3 | Princeton University

Receiving a NSBE scholarship has strongly impacted my pursuit of an engineering degree in a positive way. It is due to gracious scholarship programs as such that I'm even able to pursue a college education. Furthermore, my NSBE scholarship has enabled me to shift my focus to my academics instead how I can afford my academics. Thank you, NSBE.

Cameron Owens - Region 4 | Indiana Institute of Technology

Receiving an NSBE Scholarship has helped me tremendously. At the time when I was writing my scholarship letter, I was desperate for funding so that I can finish my undergraduate degree. The scholarship came just in time to help me focus my time and effort into my education. As a result of this focus, I was able to achieve a 4.0 during my final semester of undergrad.

Nathan Ankomah-Mensah - Region 1 | University of Rhode Island

Words cannot describe how grateful I am to NSBE for the BCA scholarship that I was awarded. With the scholarship fund, I was able to purchase the recommended study materials for the NCEES Civil-Structural Professional Engineering (P.E.) license exam which I successfully passed. Getting the P.E license while in graduate school is such a rare feat, that I was awarded an outstanding graduate student award by the University of Idaho Graduate Professional Student Association (GPSA) with the committee testament on my “distinguished academic and scholarly contributions, strong leadership initiatives reflected in community outreach and a focus on improving minority opportunity and access”. Such testament aligns with NSBE mission statement of increasing the number of culturally responsible Black Engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.

Olaniyi Arowojolu - Region 6 | University of Idaho

I was filled with gratitude when I got the scholarship award’s congratulatory message! The fund came at the most critical time when its absence might have severed my continued academic excellence. I was able to buy more academic resources that are still paving way for my quality research, whist still helping me maintain my Apex scholarly position; the latter being perfectly in line with NSBE’s mission of greatly increasing the number of culturally responsible Black Engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.

Dominic Ezemenaka - Region 3 | University of Alabama at Birmingham

With this scholarship, I will be able to continue to develop myself as an electrical engineer and as a leader on my campus with no financial worries. This upcoming semester I will be going into my core electrical engineering classes, where I will be able to learn more in depth about hardware, while being able to explore software on my own time. In addition, I will be able to continue to make an impact on my campus and in my community through my NSBE Chapter.

Robin Ryce - Region 4 | University of Michigan Ann Arbor

The NSBE Scholarship has allowed me to place focus on my academics, NSBE Chapter, and volunteer opportunities! I have been able to develop the Iowa State NSBE Chapter through sponsorships and have begun helping develop a 50k's Coalition 5K at Iowa State. This 5K will raise awareness and donate to the 50K Coalition’s goals which are to produce 50,000 diverse engineering graduates annually by 2025.

Michael Hiraldo-Santana - Region 5 | Iowa State University

Receiving the NSBE scholarship has positively impacted my pursuit of an engineering degree. The scholarship has lifted the financial burden creating a balance between work, school and involvement. Receiving this scholarship personally allowed me to focus more on school instead of the economic aspects and allowed me to contribute to the flourishing of diversity on my campus.

Jasmine Andrade - Region 1 | Wentworth Institute of Technology

Receiving this scholarship helped to relieve stress, which allows me to focus on my classes and NSBE chapter even more. I'm truly thankful that NSBE was able to help myself and other students in achieving the goals of the mission statement.

Jonathan Berry - Region 4 | The Ohio State University

As a recipient of the NSBE scholarship, this fund has facilitated the creation of an avenue in which I have the necessary means to procure required books, access online journals, attend conferences and network with experts and young researchers in the field. This opportunity granted fosters the generation of positive ideas and future collaborations that will help me support continuously the black community.

The Study Abroad Scholarship enabled me to go to Panama last semester on an engineering immersion program. At Panama, I was able to conduct water quality projects which was really special as I was able to directly apply knowledge I learnt in a Industrial Waste and Solids Class I had taken previously. I am very grateful for NSBE for providing me with this opportunity!

Ayodele Awotunde - Region 2 | Villanova University

Receiving this scholarship granted me with the funds I needed to continue my studies in my graduate program. I was able to reach doctoral candidacy, and it brought me great fulfillment knowing that NSBE believed in me and what I was doing to better the world around me.

Dudley Moore - Region 3 | The University of Alabama

Aside the monetary value of the scholarship, it also served as a reinforcement of an excellent academic standing. When I got the scholarship congratulatory email, I was elated and further encouraged to keep working hard towards achieving a stellar performance in my engineering education. For that I say Thank You to NSBE.

Christian Ogundipe - Region 5 | Texas A&M University, Kingsville

Aside the monetary value of the scholarship, it also served as a reinforcement of an excellent academic standing. When I got the scholarship congratulatory email, I was elated and further encouraged to keep working hard towards achieving a stellar performance in my engineering education. For that I say Thank You to NSBE.

Houston Green - Region 5 | Texas A&M University, Kingsville

Fist off, without this scholarship I wouldn't have graduated as soon as I was able to due to financial aid canceling grants to my student account. This scholarship was a blessing in disguise and it came at the right time. I also gained superior confidence after receiving this scholarship and my motivation is at an all time high. I believe I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. Thank you once again NSBE for helping me graduate and believing in me.

Savaughn Anderson - Region 5 | Texas State University

Receiving a NSBE scholarship has significantly removed the burden of worrying about obtaining finances to cover my school expenses. I have been able to focus more on classes, NSBE activities, and other club activities I am fond of and become a greater participant.

Mubarak Ibrahim - Region 3 | Mississippi Valley State University

Thank you for the opportunity to be a NSBE Fulfilling the Legacy Scholar! The scholarship has enabled me to participate in an overseas STEM program focused on understanding the different industries in Morocco, the challenges in each sector, and how they operate in a political and cultural context. This program will be my first time traveling outside of North America and will better inform my engineering career path as someone considering working in renewable energy. Thanks NSBE!

Sydney Johnson - Region 6 | University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Receiving the Fulfilling the Legacy Scholarship has helped me continue to fulfill the legacy. It has allowed me to continue to be very active in my NSBE chapter whilst being a student and working to excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community.

Corrinne Cassel - Region 5 | University of Texas at Austin

Being awarded a NSBE Scholarship has helped my engineering journey a great deal especially as an international student. I was notified that right before the annual national conference and was able to meet and network a number of NSBE professionals just from being a scholarship recipient. Applying for the scholarship was very easy and straightforward. I would implore all Engineering student to apply!

Brandon Gurrell - Region 4 | Kettering University

Receiving a NSBE scholarship helped relieve the financial burdens that were present during my senior year. I was able to continue volunteering, participating in extracurricular, and succeeding academically without having to worry about how I was going to pay off my tuition.